Point Pinos Lighthouse and Pacific Grove

Jill's Journal: Literally footsteps away from downtown Monterey is Pacific Grove, often called the most romantic town in America. We can see why; what a charming place. Two sides of the small town are surrounded by stunning ocean views and many of the homes are Victorian and equally stunning. In fact, Pacific Grove has more Victorian homes per capita than anywhere else in America. It’s a quieter place than Monterey and absolutely picturesque. If we ever had to live on the Monterey Peninsula, I think Pacific Grove would get my vote as the location. John Steinbeck lived here for several years; thousands of Monarch butterflies migrate here every year from Canada; John Denver died here or at least in the water just off the coast.

Point Pinos, the oldest continuously-operating lighthouse on the West Coast, is located in PG (as the locals call it). The lighthouse hasn’t missed a night since it began service on February 1, 1855. Point Pinos marks the southern entrance to the massive Monterey Bay, a spot particularly dangerous for ships. It was actually named in 1602 by Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino when he explored the California coastline for the Count of Monterey, the acting Viceroy of Mexico (New Spain). The name refers to the pine trees that grow so abundantly here, almost to the water’s edge.

Lighthouses in California are not quite as grand and spectacular as those on the East Coast, but this one had something I doubt any of its Eastern cousins had: women lightkeepers. Not one, not two, but three of the head lightkeepers at Point Pinos in the 1800s were women! Robert Louis Stevenson wrote of visiting one here in 1879, but the most famous was Mrs. Emily Fish, who served from 1893 to 1914. She converted this former closest into her breakfast nook and was known as the “Socialite Keeper” as she loved to entertain.

We’ll remember Point Pinos for another reason too: Madelyn lost her second tooth as we were walking up to the entrance! She made sure to tell every docent and tourist all about it. :)